PA Wedding Band Sues Jelly Roll For Trademark Infringement

CHADDS FORD, PA — Delaware County wedding band Jellyroll has been helping newlyweds celebrate their nuptials since the 80s. And with the rise in popularity of country singer/rapper Jelly Roll, the long-running Chadds Ford-based event entertainers are suing over copyright infringement.

According to court filings, the band has filed a lawsuit against the Country Music Award-winning artist, whose real name is Jason Bradley DeFord.

The suit argues the band has suffered economic loss due to confusion in the marketplace over the respective names.

"Now, any such search on Google returns multiple references to Defendant, perhaps as many as

18-20 references before any reference to Plaintiff’s entertainment dance band known as
Jellyroll® can be found," the suit reads.

Additionally, the suit claims DeFord's criminal history, which includes serving time for felony armed robbery in his late teens and early twenties, has damaged the band's reputation.

Defendant further claims he became a musician by learning to play guitar
while serving time in prison for felony armed robbery in his late teens and early twenties.

The band trademarked its name in 2010, and renewed the trademark in 2019, per the suit. DeFord, under the name Jelly Roll, started releasing music in 2003, but did not release a studio album until 2011.

A cease and desist order was issued to DeFord in February 2024, but the suit alleges the order was ignored.